Lexus LF-A Roadster Concept stars at Detroit

Images of what’s set to be one of the hottest cars at this week’s Detroit Auto Show, the all-new Lexus LF-A convertible, have leaked onto the Internet just hours before the show officially kicks off. Finished in a striking red paint scheme, the latest LF-A concept has another legendary red supercar clearly in its sights and with its high-revving V10 engine it fits perfectly into the high performance arena.

The new convertible is based on the previous LF-A coupe concept that’s been doing the round of international car shows over the past 12 months. Like the coupe, the roadster features a front mid-engine placement along with a rear-mounted transaxle and rear-mounted radiators for better balance. The V10, capable of more than 500 horsepower and test-track speeds greater than 200 mph, is mounted in front of the passenger compartment but behind the front-axle centerline. It's connected via a torque tube and propeller shaft to a transaxle that is controlled by paddle shifters. The torque tube is a structural member that adds rigidity to the drivetrain and chassis while also reducing vibration.

Though the LF-A is billed as a concept several prototypes have been spotted testing at the Nurburgring, which means this is one concept that will be headed for production. The first cars are tipped to hit showrooms in the first half of next year.

Lexus LF-A Takes on Roadster Form - An Open Version of the Supercar Concept Revealed

DETROIT, Jan. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- The engineers and designers at Lexus

continue to use their groundbreaking LF-A premium sports car concept as a

medium for expressing their ideas about what a high-performance sporting

vehicle not only can be, but should be. In this latest expression of the

LF- A, they have removed the car's top to create a high-performance

roadster.

The LF-A Roadster is based on the sturdy yet lightweight carbon-fiber

and aluminum body used for the LF-A coupe, which helps maintain the

structure's strength and rigidity even without a top.

Like its coupe counterpart, the LF-A Roadster is powered by a

high-revving V10 engine that approaches 5.0 liters in displacement. The

V10, capable of more than 500 horsepower and test-track speeds greater than

200 mph, is mounted in front of the passenger compartment but behind the

front-axle centerline in what the LF-A's engineers refer to as a

"front-mid" configuration.

The engine is connected via a torque tube and propeller shaft to a

transaxle that is controlled by paddle shifters. The torque tube is a

structural member that adds rigidity to the drivetrain and chassis while

also reducing vibration.

Styling is rooted in the Lexus L-Finesse design philosophy, conferring

the LF-A Roadster's front end with a compact, low-profile, aerodynamic

shape. Like its coupe counterpart, the LF-A Roadster stands just 48 inches

tall, but the Roadster configuration adds a speed adaptive rear wing.

The rear is marked by a pair of wrap-around, arrowhead-shaped

taillights that bracket a pair of large grilles. These grilles vent the

heated air from the car's two rear-mounted radiators into the LF-A

Roadster's aerodynamic wake. The radiators are fed cool air by two large